What Is Transitional Fashion?

Every year, as the autumn season approaches, I find myself staring at my wardrobe and thinking about ways my staple pieces can help me transition from one season to the other. It’s way too early to do that wardrobe season switch yet, and September can pose a bit of a challenge when it comes to choosing outfits – it's not quite summer anymore, but is it truly autumn before the leaves start falling off the trees? So today, I’d love to introduce you to transitional fashion, a term that many have heard of but few truly understand.

In essence, transitional fashion refers to clothing that can transition between seasons, effortlessly moving you from your summer to autumn wardrobe. This approach blends elements from both collections, preventing you from overspending on additional clothes. Think layers and you’ve got it!

That said, I believe there are a few fabrics that make this transition much easier for us all. So, if we build a summer and winter capsule wardrobe that focuses on textile performance, we can easily transition into the four seasons without overbuying and overspending. You know me, I choose quality over quantity any day.

SILK

Silk is an excellent fabric choice for hot weather, as it's a highly breathable fabric, allowing air to circulate and your skin to breathe. So, a great summer choice. During the milder weather of spring and autumn, silk garments and accessories add some flair too. Think scarves, blouses, and dresses for a smooth transition through the changing temperatures. Silk's natural sheen and fluid drape give it an inherent elegance perfect for the social events of springtime. For autumnal crisper days and nights, silk layers well under jackets and coats.

Furthermore, this fabric can be worn in winter too, although many types of silk would not be suited for this season as they're too lightweight. Thicker silk is good for winter, so be sure to look out for mulberry silk for your colder-weather pieces… 

I currently have two silk shirts available to purchase on my website that make for a PERFECT transitional piece. They’re bound to go fast 😉

denim

When we think of an ever-green fabric, we all just automatically think of denim. Although all denim looks similar, there are a lot of different types. While all denim is made from cotton fibres using a twill weave which creates the diagonal ribbing that is iconic to denim material, from stretch denim to acid wash, the difference lies in the weight of that cotton fabric. Once you understand the weight you prefer, you’re in. Whether it's classic blue jeans, black skinnies, or trendy wide-leg varieties, denim pairs perfectly with the all-season palettes and is the one item we should never store away from our wardrobes. If a pair of long blue jeans can easily become a seasonless staple, a denim skirt or shorts can also be layered and worn during the colder months.

From pencil skirts to high-waist trousers, maxi to mini skirts, I have just dropped a new batch of denim pieces on the online shop. My favourite is these 70s straight-leg jeans.

blazers

The right blazer can elevate any outfit. So easy to style, and blazers can be paired with just about anything: jeans, skirts, smart trousers, dresses and shorts, which is what makes this garment the perfect transitional staple piece to treasure in your wardrobes.

Both during spring and autumn, the most sought-after item seems to be the blazer. The ideal transitional piece — at last, you can wear one sans coat! — a tailored blazer continues to be one of the most versatile staples in the spring wardrobe. Whether that’s striped, checkered, leather, suede, linen, longline, fitted, oversized, bright, neutral and classic.